NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University Football opens Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 9, hosting Louisiana in the home opener. The game is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
| Old Dominion (0-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. Louisiana (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) | |
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 9 • 6 p.m. • Norfolk, Va. • Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium |
| Where to Watch | ESPN+ |
| Listen | ODU Sports Radio Network |
| Series | First Meeting |
| Game Notes | Old Dominion Louisiana |
• Old Dominion hosts Louisiana in the home opener at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
• ODU opened the 2023 season at Virginia Tech with a 36-17 setback, while Louisiana defeated Northwestern State 38-13.
• In his first career start, ODU quarterback Grant Wilson had 175 yards of total offense with two touchdown passes. He completed 13-of-25 passes for 94 yards and had 19 rushing attempts for 81 yards. He was sacked five times.
• Running back Keshawn Wicks recorded career highs with 14 carries for 73 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards, including his first career receiving touchdown.
• ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne has three new assistant coaches on staff. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kevin Decker, offensive line coach Alex Huettel and cornerbacks coach Tarron Williams. Decker and Huettel came to ODU from Fordham, while Williams came from Richmond.
• Old Dominion's 58 newcomers are the seventh most of any FBS team in the country this season and 41 scholarship newcomers is also the seventh most in the country.
Wicks Sets Career-High
In his second career start, running back Keshawn Wicks set career bests with 14 carries for 73 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards and a touchdown.
Wicks' previous career high was nine carries for 36 yards and a touchdown in last year's win over Arkansas State.
Keshawn Wicks Stats
| Attempts | Yards | Avg. | TD's | |
| 2023 | 32 | 125 | 3.9 | 1 |
| at Virginia Tech | 14 | 70 | 5.2 | 1 |
New to the Ball
Four wide receivers caught their first career passes on Saturday at Virginia Tech. Wide receivers Dominic Dutton, Kelby Williams and Reymello Murphy, along with running back Kadarius Calloway, made career catch number one at Virginia Tech.
Dutton, a former sprinter on the track team at South Carolina, caught a 16-yard touchdown in his first career reception.
Running to the Ball
ODU had three players record double-digits on Saturday at Virginia Tech. Safeties Tahj Ra-El and Terry Jones and linebacker Jason Henderson.
Jones tied career-high 12 tackles, while Ra-El had a career-high 11 and Henderson had 11.
The Atmosphere
The official game ball will be dropped in by the Window World Parachute jump team prior to kick off.
The game sponsor for the home opener will be Sentara and it is First Responders' Night. Join us at S.B. Ballard Stadium as we celebrate and honor the commitment of law enforcement, first responders and public safety personnel who keep our communities safe. Specially priced tickets are available for all First Responders by clicking here. Please provide your organization and/or unit at check out to be recognized. For questions regarding this offer, please contact Justin Ross at 757-683-3360.
For the second-straight year, Old Dominion has a tradition t-shirt. This year, the shirt was designed by ODU alum, Jacqueline Dunnagan. The shirt can be purchased by clicking here, or at the ODU Bookstore on Monarch Way.
The exciting pregame atmosphere returns at Kaufman Mall beginning four hours prior to kickoff. Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos will perform on Kaufman Mall beginning at 4 p.m. Kaufman Mall staples, the big screen TV and Beer Garden return in 2023.
Up Next
ODU takes on Wake Forest next Saturday, Sept. 16 at Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.